"Talking"

'Thinking'

Flashback - "Talking"/ 'Thinking'

Chapter 13:

The next two months, Naruto, Taya and Suzumebachi traveled through the Land of Mountains, the Land of Valleys and the Land of Sand. They decided to skip the Land of Iron. At least for now.

What Taya and Suzumebachi said, about the Land of Mountains having quite a bit of Kekkei Genkai users, turned out to be understatement, because, there was A LOT of them.

This was a good thing for several reasons, and a bad thing, for one reason.

It was a bad thing because Naruto, Taya and Suzumebachi ended up in quite a bit of a battles against those Kekkei Genkai users, which was drawing attention on them. That was something they didn't want, as of right now.

The good thing about all those battle, was the Taya and Suzumebachi were able to train their new powers, which they gained from Naruto after they left the capitol of the Land of Vegetables.

Now, while Suzumebachi has proven to be relatively good, and has adapted to the powers quite well, Taya though, ended up absorbing everything Naruto taught her as if she has been a pure hollow for decades, and not just human/hollow hybrid, for a few days.

Taya's progress even surpassed Tayuya's, at least in the speed with which she was learning, and Taya was actually able to awaken her special hollow powers. She did this while the three of them were in the Land of Sand, which was the final country they plan to visit, before they returned back to the Land of Hot Waters, so that they can go to the Whirlpool Country from there.

Suzumebachi wasn't even close, and the last time he saw her, Tayuya was progressing, but at that time, she didn't have her powers awakened. Naruto doesn't know if she might have awaken them since the last time they saw each other.

Another thing that happened while the group was in the Land of Valleys, was that they have found another person, who joined them. Of course, to join them the person wanted first to see who she is joining and if they are more powerful then she is. She refused to join and follow the commands of someone who is weaker then she is.

The person was a female. 17 years old, with a long purple hair, and beauty which rivals Taya. She was wearing white, long-sleeved shirt with some green around her neck area. On her lower body, she was wearing short black skirt, which was opened on her right thigh, along with black stockings. She also had a sword attacked to her left hip. During her sword duel against Taya, Naruto was able to see that under the short skirt, the girl was wearing a barely visible, black thong.

Overall, the girl was looking so sexy, to the point that even Naruto felt something when he saw her long legs, and caught the glimpse of her thong. That's saying a lot, considering that, as someone who has spent over a millennia as a hollow, Naruto isn't as affected by the sexual things, nor is he attracted to them.

But by seeing this girl, and seeing that Taya is just as sexy, Naruto questioned his resolve to not have any sort of relationship with anyone until he has built the country and was able to settle down in peace.

The girls name was Saeko, no last name. After she was defeated in a sword battle against Taya, which, Taya will never admit, but it wasn't an easy win for her, Saeko said that she is from the Land of Iron, where she was a part of the clan, but has given up her name and left, after she was sure that, if she was to stay there, she wouldn't have amounted to anything, since in the eyes of the samurai, woman cannot be a samurai, no matter how much they might want to.

Since she was defeated, Saeko joined Naruto and his group, just as she promised, and since that moment, the group of three young travelers (if Naruto can even be considered young), has become four.

XXX

Naruto, Taya, Suzumebachi and Saeko are standing at the shore of the Land of Hot Water, waiting for Tayuya.

They have arrived few minutes ago, and have been waiting ever since, though they are wondering if they should go and find a place to stay for the night, if Tayuya doesn't show up that day.

Naruto has sent Tayuya a letter about a week ago, saying that he should be at the south coast of the Land of Hot Water in about a week. Today is the sixth day since that letter was sent, which means that Tayuya might not show up until tomorrow.

The letter was sent by the way of Suzumebachi's summons, which are the Bee Clan, and one of their bigger bees, was able to take the scroll and take it to the the Whirlpool and hand it over to Tayuya. Naruto knows that Tayuya has received the letter because the bee has reappeared after it delivered the letter, in order to inform Suzumebachi and Naruto about it.

After the four have been standing near the shore for about half an hour, and since Naruto couldn't feel Tayuya anywhere close, he decided to just find a hotel to stay.

"Come on," he said to the three girls who were traveling with him. "Let's go find a hotel so we can have a rest. It's pointless to wait here at the shore since we don't know when exactly Tayuya will show up."

The three girls agreed with Naruto, and followed after him to find a hotel in the small costal town which is just few miles from where they are.

XXX

"So, you want to tell me who those two new chicks are?" Tayuya questioned Naruto as the two of them were walking on the ocean, on their way to the Land of Whirlpools. Taya, Suzumebachi and Saeko are walking about a dozen meters behind them.

"They are our new allies," Naruto said shortly. "I'll tell you more about them later. I want to know, how have the things been going in the Whirlpool so far?"

Tayuya shrugged, before she said. "It's ok, I guess. There was a lot of trouble finding a place which is livable and where all those people can settle. But I can't say I was thinking it would be easy. I mean, that place has been completely ruined decades ago, and then was left at the mercy of the nature. The fact that we were able to find as many livable houses as we did, is a miracle, and even those houses had to be fixed before anyone could live in them."

"Have you found anything interesting?" Naruto asked.

"No," Tayuya said. "Everything looked the same when we arrived as it did when I was there with Orochimaru, and a few other remaining Uzumaki. I guess it's up to you now to see if there is something left, or if truly everything has been destroyed."

Naruto shock his head. "I doubt everything was destroyed," he said. "Uzumaki's were seal masters, and they have most likely hidden everything valuable somewhere on the Island. We just have to find it."

Tayuya looked at Naruto with raised eyebrows. "Countless people have searched the Whirlpool up and down since its destruction, and no one has ever found anything. Even other Uzumaki have been unsuccessful."

Naruto smirked. "That means that Uzumaki of old were really good at hiding and protecting their secrets."

"Or," Tayuya said. "It just means that there really is nothing left."

Naruto shrugged. "I doubt it. But I guess we'll just have to wait and see."

Tayuya watched Naruto for about a minute, not saying anything, before she shook her head, and continued to walk next to him in silence.

XXX

Few hours later, Naruto and his companions, found themselves standing on water, while watching at the Island in the distance.

All around the island, they could see whirlpools, some bigger than the others. Those whirlpools are natural protection of the Land of Whirlpools, and is the reason for the country's name.

Besides the whirlpools, there are dozens of small islands, which are too small for anything, except for a decoration, and for several trees to grow on them.

From where he is standing, Naruto can't tell the exact size of the island, but he can guess that it is big, and that most of it is covered in high hills and mountains, which can be seen into the far distance of the Island.

The front part of the island at which Naruto and the girls are look at, isn't covered in hills and mountains, but looks like most of the visible part of the island is a crater, with a part of the outer rock wall, being hollowed, creating a waterway where the harbor is.

"So, this is the Land of Whirlpools," Naruto commented as he was looking at the island. He then looked at Tayuya and asked. "Is the hidden village through that waterway?"

Tayuya nodded. "Yes," she said. "This is where the hidden village used to be, but now there are only ruins left.

"On the other parts of the Island, are several other ruins, which used to be small towns, villages, as well as the capitol, which was in the exact center of the Island."

"And everything is destroyed?" Naruto questioned, with Tayuya nodding.

"Yes. I went and checked the capitol and as much of the other parts of the Island as I could, and I can tell you right now, that it will take a long time and lot of money to rebuild everything."

Naruto nodded. "Well, we better go so I can check out the place to see if there really isn't anything left. After that, we can start making plans for the rebuilding of the country."

Tayuya nodded, and then she and Naruto walked ahead, with Suzumebachi, Taya and Saeko following behind them.

XXX

The first thing that Naruto did once he arrived at the place where the Village Hidden in the Whirlpool's used to be, was to check out the place and see how the people who have moved there, are currently living.

He realized right away that the houses they are currently using are barely standing, and that's only due to the repairs which were made, which means that the building of the new houses will have to start right away.

One good thing, though, was that since they didn't have much to do while Naruto was traveling around the EN for the last three months, the members of the Fūma Clan and all the other people who have moved to live there, have started to clean up the place, and have been doing a good job, since Naruto was able to see several places which are completely empty of everything, unlike some other places, where there is rubble, as well as destroyed or partly destroyed houses.

When asked where they are taking all the rubble, Tayuya said that they are dumping it all in the ocean, though not at the same place, and since all the rubble are just parts of the broken houses and furniture, it's not a problem to dump it into the ocean and fear that something might affect the ecosystem of the ocean.

As of right now, everything left of the waterway entrance to the island, has been cleaned up, leaving behind barren land. Once everything is cleaned up, then they will see what to do with each part of the former Village Hidden in the Whirlpool's, and how to rebuild it.

"Did you go and check out the land around the Kage Tower?" Naruto asked Tayuya, as the two of them were heading toward the top of Village Hidden in the Whirlpool's, where the ruins of the Uzukage Tower currently sits. Taya, Suzumebachi and Saeko stayed behind to get to know all the members of the Fūma Clan as well as all the other people who are currently in the Whirlpool Country.

"Every inch of this place has been checked out," Tayuya sighed. "Nothing was ever found."

"What about the vault under the tower?" Naruto asked, drawing curious look from Tayuya.

"What makes you think there is a vault under the tower," she asked?

"I'm only assuming there is one," Naruto said. "I know that Konoha has one, and they are using it to keep money, secret files and almost everything else worth hiding. I'm assuming Village Hidden in the Whirlpool's would have something like that as well, since it is a hidden village."

Tayuya gave Naruto a glare, before she asked. "And how do you know that Konoha has a secret vault under the Hokage Tower?"

Naruto looked at Tayuya with an annoyed look on his face. "Come on Tayuya," Naruto said. "You can't tell me you still haven't found out who I am."

"And how am I supposed to figure that out when you are refusing to tell me your name," She asked very annoyed at Naruto? "All you ever said is that we are cousins and that you are half Uzumaki, just like I am."

"How many blonde Uzumaki do you know?" Naruto asked her, making Tayuya gain a thoughtful look on her face.

After a full minute, she said. "Only you… well, there is that old hag Tsunade. I know she is a quarter Uzumaki, so I guess she can count as well. But besides the two of you, I don't know any other blonde Uzumaki."

"What about that blonde haired kid who was a part of Konoha's team sent after you and your former buddies when you took away with Sasuke?" Naruto asked.

Tayuya looked at him as if he has fallen from Mars. "What about him," she questioned? "Don't tell me he is an Uzumaki as well?"

Naruto stopped walking and looked at Tayuya with a very annoyed look on his face. Tayuya's facial expression was full of confusion.

After a minute, Naruto exclaimed. "How thick can you get?" Tayuya instantly got angry and narrowed her eyes at Naruto. "That kid's name, was Naruto Uzumaki. That was ME, before they executed me after I brought Sasuke back to that hell-hole they call the Hidden Village!"

"WHAT!" Tayuya yelled when she heard this. "You men to tell me that that thick headed loudmouth brat… was you!?"

"Yes." Naruto replied shortly, before he started to walk again.

"B-But how… why," Tayuya asked? "Why would they kill you for doing your job, and successfully, at that? And how are you even alive, and why do you look like that? That execution was barely few months ago, and I only met you few days after it supposedly happened?"

"I already told you that after I was executed, I became a hollow," Naruto said, and Tayuya nodded. "I was a hollow for over a millennia, before I was sent back to this world. Time passes differently between different dimensions, so while it has been over a millennia for me, in this world, it has only been three years." Seeing a confusion on Tayuya's face, Naruto continued.

"The being who gave me another chance, and sent me back, didn't just send me to this dimension, but also back in time, to the day AFTER the original I was executed.

"She has done this in order for me to have more time to do as I want, and to change the EN, in one way or another. One of the main reasons that she sent me back in time, and not just in this dimension, was to save you." Tayuya was shocked to hear this.

"She told me that without me there to save you, you lasted for about a week, before you died," Naruto said. "For some reason, she thought that you deserve another chance in life… just like I did, so she wanted me to save you. She was able to convince me, by pointing out that we are cousins, since you are also an Uzumaki. If it wasn't for what fact… I don't think I would have bothered saving you, especially since you were part of the team which started the plot which ended with my painful death."

Tayuya flinched at Naruto's words, and didn't dare look at him. But she couldn't help herself, and asked about the reason he was killed, since he did bring Sasuke back to the village.

"I used to have Kyūbi sealed inside of me," Naruto said, shocking Tayuya once again. He then went and explained to her how Kyūbi was sealed inside of him on the same night he was born. He said how his life in the village was, how he was hated, bullied and beaten for something that wasn't his fault.

"Those who don't know anything about Fuinjutsu, simply thought that I was Kyūbi, and that Fourth Hokage turned Kyūbi into a human form so that the others can kill him," Naruto said with a disgust in his face. "While those who knew Fuinjutsu, and knew that I wasn't Kyūbi and was only its jailor, hated me because I was carrying Kyūbi. They blamed me because of everything Kyūbi did, because it was easier and was making them feel good.

"Those who knew that I wasn't Kyūbi and who treated me well, were in minority, and couldn't do anything to help me," Naruto sighed, trying to calm himself, otherwise he'd blow up the Island by accident.

"When the day of the execution came, and I was looking at the faces of all those who came to see me dying, I finally saw who were the ones who were on my side, and who were those who hated me with a passion, and wanted nothing else then to be the ones who have the pleasure to kill me.

"To tell you the truth. I already knew that the majority of the village hates me, so seeing all their hateful looks, wasn't surprising. It was surprising seeing some of those who I thought were on my side, when in fact, they hated me all along.

"I was also surprised that Tsunade allowed for me to be executed, and died thinking that she was hated me just like almost everyone else, but before I was brought back here, I found out why she allowed me to be killed, and while I'm annoyed that she allowed herself to fall under a genjutsu, I no longer blame her nor do I want her dead. The one who manipulated her, though…" Naruto ended his long speech, by not saying what he will do to Danzo, since he knows he is the one who used genjutsu on Tsunade.

Tayuya was in shock because of everything she has just head.

She has always thought that she has head a terrible life, but compared to Naruto, her life seemed like she was raised in Candy Land. She couldn't comprehend how anyone would treat a child, like Naruto was treated, especially by those who were supposed to be on his side, support him and care about him because he is protecting their lives by keeping Kyūbi locked up.

Neither of them said anything after that, as they continued to walk toward the former Uzukage Tower.

XXX

Saeko is based on Saeko Busujima from High School of the Dead.

The part of the Land of Whirlpools where Village Hidden in the Whirlpool's was, looks like the Sindria Kingdom. The rest of the Land of Whirlpools is behind the part where Sinbad's castle is in the Sindria Kingdom. That part is covered in hills, mountains and forests.